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Editor’s Note: This review originally ran in February 2018. It has since been updated to ensure accuracy—and reflect on how the product holds up after five years of off and on use.
By the time pastel hair chalks and sprays have hit every big box store in America, it’s safe to say the rainbow hair trend has jumped the shark. Or salon. Even still, when Kristin Ess—hairstylist known for Lauren Conrad, Lucy Hale, and Jenna Dewan’s looks—released a rose gold hair color spray, my curiosity was piqued. I’ve always avoided even temporary dyes. As a blonde, I’d always been warned my hair would absorb too much of the color and it wouldn’t wash out.
But, at some point, you have to shrug and go, well, it’s just hair. So I did.
The spray itself is easy enough to use. After shampooing, spray it evenly throughout your head (unless you have some kind of design in mind, though the nozzle seemed to give off a wide-reaching mist, so good luck with that). The more porous your hair is, the more it’ll absorb the color. You can also towel-dry it before spraying to get it to soak up more. Leave it on for a minute or two, then rinse it out and condition as you normally would. That’s what I did, and I wound up with baby fine, subtle pink streaks throughout my hair, as if it were threaded with cotton candy.
Kristin Ess Rose Gold Temporary Tint, Round 1 Results:
It was so subtle, in fact, that most people would talk to me for 10-15 minutes before suddenly asking, “Is it the light in here, or did you dye your hair?” That may have been because my hair was slicked back, post-shower, when I sprayed it. I noticed that when I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, the streaks were much bolder than with my hair down.
Still, I craved a little more drama. I wanted more of an all-over pink, instead of the tasteful babylights I’d gotten. So, after washing, I really rung out my hair and brushed it like it’d look when I wear it all down.
Rose Gold Temporary Tint, Round 2 Results:
This time around, there was more all-over color, but my ends weren’t as thirsty (I must have conditioned too well the day before!). They barely absorbed any color at all. While I would’ve liked it a shade more pronounced, I was grateful it wasn’t hot pink. It was more of a blush take on strawberry blonde.
How Quickly Kristin Ess’s Temporary Tint Fades:
True to form, the temporary tint washes out easily, even on highlighted hair. And if it doesn’t, it’s subtle enough that you’re not likely to get in trouble at work. Unless you work in a really conservative field.
You can find a bottle at Target, Ulta or Amazon for $10 to $15, which should last at least three applications. (In my case, when I used it for subtle babylights, it lasted for six or seven uses.)